#Suits By Mai Atafo

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Nigerian Fashion Designers Unveiling the Vibrant Tapestry of Style

Nigeria, a country known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse traditions, and artistic expressions, is home to a dynamic and burgeoning fashion industry. Nigerian fashion designers have not only made their mark locally but have gained international recognition for their creativity, innovation, and a unique fusion of traditional and contemporary elements. In this article, we'll explore the world of Nigerian fashion designers, their influence, and the vibrant tapestry of style they've woven.

A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity

Nigerian fashion is a captivating blend of tradition and modernity. It draws inspiration from the country's 250 diverse ethnic groups, each with its own unique clothing styles, textiles, and jewelry. Nigerian fashion designers artfully incorporate these traditional elements into contemporary designs, creating pieces that resonate with both local and global audiences.

Ankara, a vibrant and colorful fabric, is a hallmark of Nigerian fashion. Designers skillfully transform Ankara into dresses, suits, blouses, and accessories, bringing a sense of African identity to their creations. The use of adire (indigo-dyed cloth), Aso Oke (handwoven fabric), and gele (headscarves) further showcases Nigeria's rich textile heritage.

Prominent Nigerian Designers

Nigeria has produced a plethora of talented fashion designers who have made waves on the international stage. Here are a few noteworthy names:

Lanre Da Silva Ajayi: Known for her exquisite fusion of vintage and contemporary designs, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi has been a pioneer in the Nigerian fashion scene. Her collections often feature intricate embellishments and a striking use of color.

Deola Sagoe: Deola Sagoe is renowned for her groundbreaking designs in traditional African fabrics, particularly the popular Ankara fabric. She has received accolades for her bold and vibrant patterns, which have helped reshape the perception of African fashion.

Mai Atafo: Mai Atafo is celebrated for his impeccable tailoring and ability to craft sophisticated menswear and women's wear. His suits and gowns have garnered praise for their exceptional attention to detail.

Lisa Folawiyo: Lisa Folawiyo is celebrated for her innovative take on Ankara prints. Her brand, Jewel by Lisa, fuses traditional African fabrics with modern silhouettes, creating pieces that have been featured on runways around the world.

The Global Impact

Nigerian fashion designers have transcended borders and brought African style to the global stage. Celebrities, including Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Lupita Nyong'o, have showcased their designs, helping raise awareness about the creative talent in Nigeria.

Nigeria's fashion industry has also gained recognition through events like Lagos Fashion Week, Arise Fashion Week, and the African Fashion International Week, where designers from all over the continent come together to showcase their collections.

Sustainability and Ethical Practices

In recent years, Nigerian fashion designers have been increasingly focusing on sustainability and ethical practices. Many designers are embracing eco-friendly materials, fair labor practices, and responsible sourcing. This shift towards ethical fashion not only benefits the environment but also empowers local communities.

Challenges and the Way Forward

While Nigerian fashion designers have gained global recognition, they still face challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, intellectual property theft, and the need for access to finance. Overcoming these challenges will require the support of government initiatives, investors, and continued dedication from the fashion community.

In conclusion, Nigerian fashion designers are the flag bearers of a rich cultural tapestry that transcends borders and celebrates the beauty of tradition and modernity. Their designs are a testament to the creativity, diversity, and resilience of Nigeria's fashion industry, and they continue to shape the world of fashion with their innovative, bold, and ethically conscious creations. As the global fashion industry evolves, Nigeria's fashion designers are set to play an even more significant role in influencing the way the world dresses.

For more info :-

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Lagos Fashion Week

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Metallic Brown Suits By Mai Atafo

Metallic Brown Suits By Mai Atafo

Metallic brown suits by Mai Atafo are the real deal! You need to see what we are talking about to love them like we do. These suits work so well on black skin and you can literally see how they make the black skin glow, whether light skinned or dark skinned. What do you think? SEE ALSO 9 Stylish Work Wear Looks For April

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Mai Atafo Looks Absolutely Dapper on the Latest Issue of TheWill Downtown Magazine

Mai Atafo Looks Absolutely Dapper on the Latest Issue of TheWill Downtown Magazine

Menswear design extraordinaire Mai Atafo is on the cover of the latest issue of TheWill Downtown Magazine. On the magazine cover, Mai looks extra dapper in a crisp teal double-breasted suit featuring a matching shirt sourced from his brand, as you would expect. According to the publication: Not many brands understand the importance of evolving, but one brand, ATAFO, is an exception. The ATAFO…

[naijadiary]

Alex Unusual Graces The Cover Of Glazia Magazine (Photos)

Alex Unusual Graces The Cover Of Glazia Magazine (Photos)

Nigerian model, Alex Unusual has flawlessly graced the cover of Glazia Magazine with outstanding photos of her. Thee Bbnaija star modeled in a pink men’s suit personally fitted by the creative director and fashion guru himself, Mai Atafo. The 1st quarter special magazine which is themed, “Womanhood” aims at celebrating the versatility of a woman. “For this issue, we wanted to showcase the woman…

[salty-apples]

Ahoy there and welcome aboard the ship!

The blog is a lot of fun these days and I am always excited to put up new content. Today is a movie review day and what better movie could be here than the record-breaking wedding flick, The Wedding Party!

Name: The Wedding Party

Year of Release: 2016

Studio: EbonyLife

Cast: Adesuwa Etomi, Bankole Wellington, Sola Sobowale, Ireti Doyle, Richard Mofe Damijo, Alibaba Akpobome, Somkele Iyamah, Eyinna Nwigwe, Daniella Down, Ikechukwu Onunaka, Beverly Naya

Director: Kemi Adetiba

Synopsis: As their big day arrives, a couple’s lavish wedding plans turn into a nightmare that includes exes, fighting parents and uninvited guests.

[insert spoilers ahead logo]

If you don’t know The Wedding Party, I suggest that you open your Netflix account and watch it ASAP. This is one movie that actually shows how a typical Nigerian wedding runs and I for one, was amazed at how much I could relate to some of the events which unfolded over the course of nearly two hours.

A BIT OF CONTEXT:

In Nigeria, weddings are huge, all-inclusive family affairs. No matter your social standing, when you’re getting hitched, expect to be throwing a carnival-like bash for your family, friends, church members, long lost relatives and the assorted ‘mogbomoyas’ (gate crashers). Weddings here are typically lavish and everyone is expected to pitch in any way to support the couple. Regular weddings are like one-day festivals but upper-class weddings can span days and involve several parties happening simultaneously. Everyone is expected to be uniform in the native ‘Aso-ebi’ (family cloth) and appear as a strong unit. Both families usually choose two different and sometimes complementary colors to mark the occasion. As Nigerians incorporate ethnic customs in their weddings, different aso-ebis are often allotted for different parts of the wedding ceremonies. We like to dance and sing and make merry a lot and our weddings always reflect that.

Now, back to the review…

The Wedding Party is a Nigerian designer’s couture dream and I’m not surprised about that as a top designer was hooked for the characters’ costumes. Mai Atafo, a celebrated bridal designer, was behind the amazing looks of the entire wedding party and to be honest, it was something. Bride Dunni’s wedding outfit was a work of art and so were those of the bridesmaids. Maid of Honor Yemisi was stunning in her fuchsia pink gown.

The Wedding Party is not just a story about a couple making it official- it’s a larger conversation about what occurs when two people from different ethnic groups in Nigeria decide to get married. It explores what happens when two different cultures attempt to merge and the friction resulting from the collision. The ethnic groups represented, The Yoruba and the Igbo, are two of the largest ethnic groups within Nigeria’s borders and historically, have not been the best of neighbors. But the film had a larger message, one which resonated with people within inter-ethnic unions- it was possible to achieve synergy. Inasmuch as the bride and groom, Dunni and Dozie were the focus of the movie, it was through their mothers, Lady Onwuka and Mrs. Coker that the story of inter-tribal differences was told. It’s a pretty story with real world consequences written into it.

Story aside, let’s look at the costumes!

  Igbo

Yoruba

The first thing to note is the difference between what the families of the bride and groom wear. The bride’s family is Yoruba and the groom’s Igbo (in real life, the actress who plays the bride is Edo and the actor who plays the groom is Yoruba. Also, they are an actual married couple. So you see, life does imitate art sometimes!). This had to be accurately represented in what they wore. Socially, the Yoruba are known as a merry and flamboyant group and though their iros (wrappers), bubas (blouses), geles (head ties) and agbadas (large embroidered overshirts) were not as bright as what I usually see every weekend, the designer still tried to convey the family’s wealth as well as their culture clearly and it was very well done. For the Onwukas, the same appearance of wealth had to still be relayed to the audience. Being an Igbo family, thick embroidered wrappers and heavy beaded blouses as well as statement jewelry had to be the go-to for the mother of the groom and her friends. Although equally as merry and flamboyant as their Yorubas counterparts, the Onwuka family received the toning down treatment as Lady Onwuka’s character showed a clear distaste for extravagant shows of wealth as opposed to proclaiming her family’s riches through snide remarks. Nevertheless, both families were beautifully attired for the movie.

Now, for the bridal party, I’m going to split this up into three groups: the bride and her bridesmaids, the groom and groomsmen, and the exes.

For the bride, Mai Atafo had the wedding gown come as a detachable set consisting of an off the shoulder cape with a cathedral length train and a sleeveless column gown with a bejeweled belt and 3-D appliqué. It was a most daring style, leading the way in changing the way Nigerian brides approached bridal styling. Light, easy and sort of breezy, the gown accentuated its wearer’s slim build, bringing out her form and enhancing it as she moved down the aisle. It was a work of art, the same way the Maid of Honor’s dress was. That fuchsia gown is the ultimate dinner party inspiration, what with its cascading off the shoulder lapel and white diamond-like appliqué. The rest of the bridesmaids had dresses just as good, in fuchsia of course and appliquéd with tiny multicolored flowers.

For the grooms, Mai Atafo did not disappoint. Originally a menswear designer, he put his signature touch in the suits worn by the groom’s side of the bridal party. Unlike in a lot of wedding pictures I’ve seen, the groom and his boys had clear distinctions- black for Dozie and blue for Sola and the rest of the gang. The suits were wonderfully made, adding to the air of refinement these upper-class men already possessed (except Sola. He was a basket case).

Now for the exes. In this area, we need to split it into two parts: Rosie (Dozie’s ex-girlfriend) and Small Chops (Chief Onwuka’s mistress). Both of them gatecrashed the wedding and they made sure they were dressed to send clear messages to the people they came for. Rosie’s reception outfit was a lesson in Modern Bride 101. Daring back cut, layered flounces and an off the shoulder neckline (Mai Atafo must really like off the shoulder wedding gear, phew!) were given to a character who came to upstage the bride on her wedding day. The message of ‘Dozie, you don’t know what you are missing’ was clear and having the dress in white gave it the extra slap it needed when Dunni and Rosie eventually clashed. In that scene, the differences between both women was clear just from looking at how they were dressed: Dunni- sweet, girlish and innocent and Rosie- daring, provocative and evil. That was a fantastic visual contrast and one of the best I’ve ever seen in white. Small Chops on the other hand, came with the intention of disrupting Chief and Lady Onwuka’s peace of mind and she dressed the part.

Small Chops (real name unknown as Chief Onwuka had the original idea of disguising her as finger food) arrived in a goddess-like style.  Haltered cowl, empire waistline and a back whose movements would make a wedding veil jealous, Small Chops did what she came to do in style. Unfortunately, her triumph was short-lived and she was pushed out of the gathering before any more punches were pulled. So long, Small Chops- we may not have known your name, but your dress was a front to back hit all the way. Shout out to your fascinator too.

And there we have it, folks- my review of the wedding party and its style moments. In general, much of the story was playing a fast and loose game but it made for an easy, enjoyable and relatable viewing. This is just one Nigerian’s point of view anyway so go watch and tell me what you think about it.

Until next time,

Ciao!

Movie Review: The Wedding Party Ahoy there and welcome aboard the ship! The blog is a lot of fun these days and I am always excited to put up new content.

[andreadeyemo]

Mai Atafo is true royalty . #andreblunt #andrebluntphoto #maiatafo #posterboy #style #suit #royal #weddingdress #fashion #luxury #elegant #photography

[king-webman]

Mai Atafo support Design Fashion Africa for new Fashion Designer

Mai Atafo support Design Fashion Africa for new Fashion Designer

AS Design Fashion Africa (DFA) has launched its search for the next superstar designer from the continent, fashion designers across Africa will have a platform, which seeks to discover, inspire and empower existing and upcoming designers to commercialise their talents.

In its maiden edition, the announcement event held at Eko Hotel & Suites, and attended by celebrities like Idia Aisien, Kelechi…

[mrnyce-watch]

#Mr_Nyce_Watch Fashion Alert

Ohimai Atafo is a bespoke fashion tailor, entrepreneur and the creative director of fashion label Mai Atafo. The brand creates men's suits and ... from The Fashion Team via #Mr_Nyce_Watch

[afroinsider]

Ebuka VS Floyd Mayweather: Who rocked the floral suit better?

Ebuka VS Floyd Mayweather: Who rocked the floral suit better?

Retired American boxer, Floyd Mayweather goes up against Nigerian slay king, Ebuka in this floral suit by Mai Atafo.

  Who killed it?

The post Ebuka VS Floyd Mayweather: Who rocked the floral suit better? appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

[nollywoodmagazine]

AMVCA 2017: Red Carpet Photos

AMVCA 2017: Red Carpet Photos

Rita Dominic was a sight for sore eyes in an Avant-Gardish piece while Adesua Etomi dazzled in Mai Atafo, Inidima Okojie chose a piece from Fablane by Derin amongst other bold looks for the night.

The fifth edition of the prestigious Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) is underway today, 4th March 2017 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos with IK Osakioduwa and Minenhle…

[stylevitae]

This year’s edition of Lagos Fashion Week may have come to an end, but it would definitely be remembered by many for its spectacular runway shows over a period of three days.

The four-day event which took place from the 23rd to 26th of October 2019 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos, featured a mix of exciting activities and played hosts to designers such as, Mai Atafo, Lisa Folawiyo, Andrea Inyamah, Orange Culture, CLAN, Style Temple, Yuteerone, Tokyo James, Iamisigo, Maxvive to mention a few.

One of the key highlights of the 4-day show were the stunning hairstyles displayed on the runway courtesy of leading hair extension manufacturers, Darling.

As the official hair sponsors for Lagos Fashion Week, Darling hairstylists brought a unique fusion of hair and fashion to each runway show by creating unique hairstyles to suit all the design pieces featured on the runway.

This edition of Lagos Fashion Week saw massive hair representation as the leading hair extension brand brought a dynamic experience to the three days of fashion Week with its one of a kind experiential space. The Darling experiential space, hosted by TV host, Tomike Adeoye, was the go-to space at the exhibition area.

Darling gave out 300 samples of its new detachable Kinky Straight and Afro Kinky ponies to guests who visited the space.

On Day 3, Darling put together a creative runway show to display its new collection of hair extensions across the brand’s current hair formats including weaves, braids, naturals, and crochets.

Darling’s runway show had the perfect mix of fashion moments and surprises. From an exciting model lineup with star-studded appearances from media personalities; Bolanle Olukanni, Venita Akpofure, Idia Aisien, Kaylah Oniwo, the purple-themed dresses, and creative hairstyles got all the accolades for the night.

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GET THE SCOOP ON DARLING’S REMARKABLE OUTING AT LAGOS FASHION WEEK 2019 This year’s edition of Lagos Fashion Week may have come to an end, but it would definitely be remembered by many for its spectacular runway shows over a period of three days.

[amillionstyles]

We Are Serving Suits By Mai Atafo For Lunch, Grab Yours!

We Are Serving Suits By Mai Atafo For Lunch, Grab Yours!

Y’all know Mai Atafo is a force to reckon with in the fashion world, most especially in Nigeria famous models like Naomi Campbellhave strutted the runway in his pieces. If you watched the box office blockbuster Nigerian movie “The Wedding Party” directed by Kemi Adetiba, the wedding dress Adesua Etomi-Wellington’s character, Dunni, wore, was made by Mai Atafo and it was a glorious sight to behold.

[ezytalkz]

#VDJ2019: Mai Atafo, Bonang Matheba, Boity Thulo & More Stars Shine at Vodacom Durban July!

#VDJ2019: Mai Atafo, Bonang Matheba, Boity Thulo & More Stars Shine at Vodacom Durban July!

The stars stepped out in style for one of South Africa’s biggest events! Vodacom Durban July 2019 held yesterday in Durban. It is a major social and fashion event and celebrities certainly aren’t shy about showing off glitz and glamour.

Check out all the glittering gowns and dashing suits as the stars, including Boity, Toke Makinwa, and Mai Atafo made their way into the Greyville Racecourse.

Loo…

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Checkout Ebuka ‘s outfits for the opening ceremony of BBNaija Forget Wahala 2019 (See Photos)

Checkout Ebuka ‘s outfits for the opening ceremony of BBNaija Forget Wahala 2019 (See Photos)

BBNaija Forget Wahala Host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu is ever stylish and Nigerians are excited to see him return for the BBNaija Forget Wahala 2019, his outfits for the opening ceremony is one of the interests of people.

Ebuka is the host for the BBNaija Forget Wahala 2019 which officially commenced today, Sunday 30th June, 2019.

The ever stylish Ebuka made a first appearance in a suit by Mai Atafo.

Th…

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AMVCA2018: Ebuka Obi-Uchendu’s Sellotaped Earpiece Got Fans Talking

AMVCA2018: Ebuka Obi-Uchendu’s Sellotaped Earpiece Got Fans Talking

“As expected, Popular Tv host, Ebuka Uchendustunned in a jaw dropping outfit at the 2018 AMVCAas he was spotted repping his signature designer, Mai Atafo, on the red carpet at Eko hotels and suites.” (more…)

[afroinsider]

#VDJ2019: Mai Atafo, Bonang Matheba, Boity Thulo & More Stars Shine at Vodacom Durban July!

#VDJ2019: Mai Atafo, Bonang Matheba, Boity Thulo & More Stars Shine at Vodacom Durban July!

The stars stepped out in style for one of South Africa’s biggest events! Vodacom Durban July 2019 held yesterday in Durban. It is a major social and fashion event and celebrities certainly aren’t shy about showing off glitz and glamour.Check out all the glittering gowns and dashing suits as the stars, including Boity, Toke Makinwa, and Mai Atafo made their way into the Greyville…